Disclaimer found on chapter 1

Chapter Notes: A quick word of thanks to whomever runs the Goblin Name Generator at Seventh Sanctum. Even though I believe it's meant more for the ones found in World of Warcraft, I've found it to be fairly good for Harry Potter goblins as well.

Also: There appears to be a glitch in ffnet in regards to updating quickly. I've noticed that sometimes when I send in a fast update the time doesn't register, and therefore the new chapter is easy to miss. If this matters to you, I would recommend clicking the button to follow my story so you will be notified by email when I do update.

Chapter 10 – Under Arrest

Remus and Sirius both had different reactions to learning about the little girl once known as Hera Jasmine Potter. As the couple explained how Lily'd had a prophetic dream, (a gift she claims to have always had but kept secret), showing her sweet baby girl to be the prophecy child, they tearfully decided to hide her away in order to keep her safe. They claimed to have begged a nice, upstanding muggle family Lily had known from childhood to take the newborn and raise her until it was safe for her to return.

Apparently they were then afraid to make contact with the Fergusons, (the so-called foster family), in the event that the Potters would inadvertently lead death eaters to the location where Hera was being kept. It was, therefore, a great surprise to them when they saw their precious baby girl, for the first time since she was a newborn, in the presence of a large coven of vampires. Fearing for Hera's life, the couple then claim to have rushed immediately after the service to the Fergusons' home, only to find that the entire family had been tragically murdered in what the muggle police officers claim to be some kind of vicious animal attack.

Armed with this new information, the frantic Potters then went immediately to Sirius' and James' boss, Rufus Scrimgeour – Head of the Auror Department. Needless to say, with James' reputation and upstanding history, arrest records were put together immediately. Scrimgeour, himself, vowed not to rest until the "vicious beasts" were ripped apart and turned to ash for their heinous crimes.

Of course, their case wasn't hurt by the fact that Albus Dumbledore backed them up completely, claiming to know about the baby's placement at the "loving family's" home. He then went on to say it had been his idea to keep the knowledge of the child a secret from even their closest friends. He meant no disrespect, but went on to claim that the Potters once trusted their old friend Peter Pettigrew and was later betrayed by him when they accidently discovered the dark mark branded on the rat animagus' arm.

That reminder still hurt the remaining marauders.

Sirius Black, once he heard this tale of tragedy and woe, rallied behind his friends immediately… determined to pledge his life in the quest to save his goddaughter from her captors. And Remus? Remus J. Lupin looked his friends in the eyes and promised to do everything within his power to see that the truth became known. The werewolf fully intended honor that promise.

He just wasn't completely certain that Dumbledore and the Potters were the ones he would be fighting to save.

Hera started crying when her daddy said they were to be arrested. The living room became very loud as her family all began shouting at the same time. She immediately covered her ears and buried her face in her mama's silk blouse. Esme promptly picked her child up and told everyone to be quiet. Though she hadn't shouted, the rest could quickly see that their reactions were scaring the phoenix and they calmed themselves. No sooner did silence descend than there was a loud knocking at the door.

The seven-year-old whimpered, fearing it to be aurors on the other side, ready to take her family away to be murdered. Edward pulled her into his own arms as Carlisle went to answer the door, gently reassuring her that no human could ever make it this far without the goblins' permission. She began to calm, realizing Edward was right. Still, she only fully relaxed when her daddy led Foulclaw inside the house.

The goblin looked very angry and Hera then began to worry that they had caused so much trouble for him and his people that they were about to be cast out into the wizarding world. Edward began rubbing her back, soothing her without words.

Foulclaw waived away the offer of refreshments and gestured for everyone to take a seat. Once Edward sat down, Hera turned to face who she hoped would be their savior from this mess.

"I have to say the audacity of James and Lily Potter knows no bounds," the goblin said in a disgusted manner.

Carlisle ran his fingers through his hair in a rare show of frustration. "What can we do, Foulclaw? This isn't a case of an unsanctioned attack against members of the goblin nation… the Potters have actually gone through legal channels to have us arrested for kidnapping Hera. It's absurd!"

Foulclaw sneered. "Oh it's not just kidnapping. They're also charging you with the murder of Hera's fictitious guardians."

"Fictitious," Jasper asked, using his gift to lessen his sister's sorrow and fear.

"Yes. They wouldn't dare bring the true monsters they left Hera with into this. Once the wizarding world finds out what Hera's infancy was really like, they will turn on the Potters faster than you can imagine."

"So let's find the monsters," Rosalie exclaimed.

Hera felt the icy cold sensation of shame flow through her. She never wanted anyone to find out about what had happened to her in that house of horrors. She didn't even want to know the things that occurred that she couldn't remember! Edward's arms tightened around her just as Jasper crouched down to look her in the eye. "Don't you dare, Hera. You've got nothing to be ashamed of, you hear me? The Dursleys are the monsters in this movie, darlin' and we're going to expose them for what they truly are in front of the entire magical world."

The phoenix leaned forward and hugged her blonde brother tightly, relishing the feel of his own arms around her as well as the gentle hands of her mate rubbing her back. She was terrified beyond belief that she would soon lose this. Every vampire in this room was worth more to her than her own life and to lose any one of them would be a great tragedy from which she would never recover.

"We just have to find them," Carlisle interjected. It hadn't taken much effort to track them down when they needed their signatures on Hera's adoption forms. Unfortunately, if Nicolas' curse remained strong, the Dursleys could be anywhere by now. The massive case of artificial bad luck may very well have rendered them homeless.

Foulclaw nodded thoughtfully. "We've got investigators out tracking them down. Don't worry," he added, "even if we don't locate them, they're not our only defense against the erroneous accusations. Just because the Ministry of Magic doesn't have a clue how to garner information in the non-magical world, it doesn't mean that everyone else is just as incompetent."

Carlisle nodded, seemingly bolstered by their friend's confidence. "Okay, so what happens now? What do you normally do when a goblin is charged with a wizarding crime?"

The goblin sighed. "I'm afraid we have no choice but to hand you over to be tried in their court."

"No!" Hera screamed. "They can't take my family, I won't let them," she sobbed. "I'll flash you all away to my school… Professor Fredrickson said it's a safe place for all magical creatures!" She fought Edward as he pulled her in closely. "I won't let it happen… I won't!"

The goblin looked pained as he approached the small girl, and began stroking her hair. "Calm down, child. Nothing will happen to them in the ministry, I swear it on my honor as a goblin. And believe me when I say that nothing is more important to a goblin than his honor."

Red eyes, swollen from tears, stared intently into Foulclaw's black orbs. "What about the wizards… they treat my family badly because they're vampires when they haven't done anything bad! What will they do when they think they have?"

Wiping the tears from Hera's face with his spindly fingers, the goblin smiled. "You forget, little one. They aren't going in as vampires, but goblins. Wizards are bound by the treaty between us to ensure that no goblin comes to harm in the hands of the ministry. They wouldn't dare to break the treaty… especially since goblins house the majority of their money."

Hera sniffled and accepted some tissues from her mother in order to blow her nose. "How long will they be away."

"As short a time as is possible." He returned to his seat now that the youngling was more calm. "I have goblins working around the clock in order to insure this matter is dealt with quickly."

Edward looked pained. "What about Hera? We're not handing her over to the wizards!"

"Of course we aren't. She will remain down here with a suitable caretaker, I assure you. The head dragon handler Dreadblade and his mate Tmora have already volunteered to house the young one until you have returned." Foulclaw turned his attention to the phoenix. "Dreadblade has become quite fond of you, Hera, as have the dragons, and Tmora is very nurturing. I think they will be able to keep you busy enough so that you don't dwell on matters. I'll also have an empty portrait placed in your room so that your aunt and uncle will be able to visit you, and so you can have them contact me should you desire it."

Hera nodded before hugging Edward as tightly as she could. "Stay safe?"

Edward closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his mate's hair. "I promise, but you have to promise the same Hera." He placed a finger under her chin, pulling until her green eyes met his topaz. "Promise me that you won't do anything crazy while we're gone… nothing dangerous and nothing stupid, okay?"

"I won't!"

"I mean it Hera… no attempts to break us out of jail! And you also have to promise to obey Dreadblade and Tmora. If you can promise me all of that, then I'll promise that we will all stay safe."

Hera met the gaze of each of her family members before solemnly nodding. "I promise, Edward."

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